Raynors HCA 2015-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/19/2015
War-date Union soldier's Port Hudson campaign letter, 2pp. 8vo., written by William H. Hibbard [DOD at Baton Rouge, 6/25/63], Co. B, 160th New York Vols., Alexandria, [La.], May 14, 1863, in part: "…we have had a hard march. We have marched 430 miles in 24 days. We would stop about sun down & start at 4 o'clock in the morning. The days would be so hot & dirty. Some times I would think I must drop everything…I begin to think I can stand most anything. I have tired out strong men than I am on this march. I can sleep just as sound on the ground as I did at home…I have been wet throw with the rain & laid down on the ground, got up all right in the morning…we drove the rebs before us, killed & wounded & tuck prisoners 2000, took 400,000 bales of cotton. I hope all the armies have done as well as General Banks…we will have them trapped before long. They are pretty well starved out at Port Hudson. They [rebels] allow the soldiers 12 ounces of meal & 10 ounces of beef, no salt. They cant hold out long at that rate. Banks army is a little over 100 miles from Port Hudson…news came this morning that it was surrounded by our troop. I hope the devils will have to give up soon. We had a lot of rebel prisoners. They said that we lived better on a march than they did in camp. They said they had their allowance of meal & they would sift it & use the siftings for coffee. They burn it. They would have to make their one Johnny cake. They said all they used was water & sugar. When they was with us they would get their coffee 3 times a day & they had crackers & meal all they wanted…most of the prisoners are tired of fighting. They was glad they was taken for they said [they could] get a chance to go home. I felt sorry for some of them. They said they was forced to fight…". The original transmittal cover is included. VG
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.